by A P Heath
Someone’s foot hit him again and he felt the weight of their body against him as they toppled over his prone form. He opened his eyes to see the ribbon wrapped body of a tattooed woman, one of The Branded, as she scrabbled to get to her feet again.
Before she was up a shadow covered her and he looked up to see the massive body of Philp step over him and reach out to her. He grabbed her by the hair tied high on her head and lifted her bodily into the air.
Rig heard her shout and curse as she dangled, her arms grasping at his hand. Philp held her for a moment before he brought his other hand forward sharply and plunged a long knife into her back. She screamed in pain and Rig watched in horror as Philp thrust his arm back and forth, hammering the blade into her again and again. Her blood poured out onto the floor, splashing over Rig where he lay below her.
Her body went limp and Rig watched as Philp put the knife in two more times. Then he tossed her to the side, letting her fall in a heap on the road. Rig felt more vomit thrust its way up from inside him at the sight of her bloodied corpse and he shook as it poured out of him. Philp turned and walked away, his own body splattered with red.
Rig felt dizzy, his eyes closing as his vision swam. His head dropped back to the ground, thumping hard where the strength to hold himself up had left him. Rig let his eyes close, the feeling of pain drifting away as his body turned cold and there was nothing left but the blackness.
FOURTEEN
Rig opened his eyes as the sound of voices gently pulled him into consciousness. He was lying on his back on something soft and warm. The room he saw as his eyes slowly grew accustomed to the dark was low and filled with shapes he couldn’t quite identify. He struggled to make out details but his head felt light and strange and he couldn’t focus properly.
It smelled strange to him; like the smell of Groaner’s office when she had him clean up after a garbage shift. The tang of cleaning fluids in the air burned in his nose.
There was a breeze on his face and above him he could make out the slow spinning blades of a fan. Wherever he was the place must have cost a lot of credits.
Rig closed his eyes again and saw flashes behind his lids. He’d dreamed; terrible, horrible dreams. There had been blood red eyes staring at him. There had been a monster with rotting teeth that bit into him and tore his flesh as he screamed. There had been blood, so much blood, raining down on him and filling up around him until he drowned in it.
Rig opened his eyes, hoping the images would disappear in the light. There was a noise; a door closing maybe and then voices.
“I checked, she’s gone for sure.” He heard the words but couldn’t decide where they were coming from.
“For def’nite?”
“No one livin’ looks like that.”
Rig tried to move his head to look around, but it felt so heavy all of a sudden and he didn’t have the strength to lift it.
“Fuck! Reckon someone did for her? The Branded maybe?”
“Nah,” there were thumps like heavy footsteps, “It looked more like she took all them pills you give ‘er. A right mess she was, starin’ with eyes what ain’t gonna see nothin’ no more. All red and bloody they was. Creepy.” The last word was followed by a sound like someone shaking and blowing a breath out through loose lips.
“Creepy or not, it’s a problem.”
Rig tried to make sense of the words. He didn’t know who was talking or who they were talking about, but it didn’t sound good.
“What d’ya mean?”
“’Cause what ‘bout him?”
“Him what? He ain’t our problem.”
There was a pause and Rig tried again to move. His body felt like it was tied down, his arms fixed at his sides, his legs pinned in place.
“Maybe he is, but maybe he could be a solution, not a problem.”
“What d’ya mean?”
“I mean I see ‘n opportun’ty where you just sees a boy.”
“A fuckin’ dull boy.”
“That’s jus’ what makes him useful.” Another pause, “The Mayor’s Men have been all o’er us lately, it’d be good to have another option…”
“You wanna make him a runner?” The voice sounded surprised, doubtful.
“Why not? He knows the place and it ain’t like anyone’s gonna suspect him.”
“I don’t know ‘bout that. You gotta make sure he understan’s, make sure he don’t nick it and fuck off – how’d you know you can trust him?”
There was a metallic clicking sound, metal bouncing lightly against metal. The image of a knife jumped into Rig’s mind but he didn’t know why.
“It’s all in the way he’s sold it. Make ‘im think he’s doin’ some good and there ain’t no way he’ll turn on me. He likes doin’ good that boy, despite everythin’ he still likes doin’ a bit o’ good.”
“And if Skez gets ‘er ‘ands on ‘im again?”
“Skez is another problem.”
“Not an opport’nity?” There was a bark of a laugh.
“Ha, no! Skez is a fuckin’ sore that I want rid of. I’ll deal with him, you go deal with Skez and then…”
Rig opened his mouth to speak but his tongue wouldn’t move. He coughed and spluttered as his saliva choked him. He could feel himself panicking, feel the helplessness of his still body.
“Shit, he’s awake! Go put him out again.”
“He ain’t up, not with all that in ‘im!”
“He fuckin’ is, now go put him down again!”
Rig fought to swallow, his throat felt like it was on fire and his breath wouldn’t come. Someone came close to him and he tried to move his arms to reach out to them.
Something pricked the skin of his arm and Rig felt a warmth suddenly fill his body. His mind began to float and the panic rising inside him was washed away. His lips broke into a lazy smile and his eyes rolled as he slipped back into unconsciousness.
FIFTEEN
Rig opened his eyes. He was lying on his back on something soft and warm. His mouth was dry and his tongue felt fat and swollen. He looked around to see the room he was in was filled from edge to edge with dark boxes, trunks and little cases.
He didn’t know where he was, but as he looked up he saw a fan turning slowly above him, sending down a slight waft of cool air. Wherever he was the place must have cost a lot of credits. Something struck him as odd. Had he thought that before?
Rig brought his arms up to raise himself onto his elbows and grimaced as his something in his stomach pulled tight. He looked down to see a thick blanket was covering him from chest to toes. He’d never slept under a blanket before and he wondered again where he was.
Rig lifted the cloth to see he was naked below it. He dropped it quickly and looked around, worried about who had seen him, who had undressed him and put him here. There was no one else in sight and no sound but the gentle ‘whum, whum’ of the fan over his head.
Rig lifted the blanket again and saw the tightly wrapped bandaging around his stomach. He slid a hand down and gasped as the lightest touch made his belly fill with fire. Rig drew his hand back carefully and let the blanket fall to cover him again.
He tried to remember how he’d gotten here or even where ‘here’ was. There was nothing. The last thing he remembered was walking with Max. His friend Max had wanted to know about something, where something was…
It was all muzzy and Rig shook his head to try and clear it. He was somewhere nice and expensive looking. Maybe his mother had used the credits Max gave them to buy somewhere. Rig wasn’t sure how much a place like this would cost but he doubted they had quite that much in credits.
Maybe she’d found some work for someone important and they’d given her a place to stay? That didn’t seem right either. Max was nice and he’d been generous, but Rig hadn’t known anyone else in Henstown to be like that. Not ever.
And why was he hurt? How was he hurt? Something surfaced in his mind; a blurry image of red eyes, a horrible smile that frightened him. None of it made sense.
Rig tried to turn to look about the rest of the room, but moving too much made his gut hurt and the pain was enough to leave him queasy. He thought he might be sick so he gently lay back and let the softness support his head.
Wherever he was, it was certainly a nice place. He let out a little laugh and pulled the blanket up to his neck. There was the sound of movement from another room and Rig looked up.
To the right of where he lay there was an opening into another room. It looked like a step or two led down into the room before it opened up, but Rig could only see a thin sliver of the space beyond and he had no idea how big it was.
As he watched Max came into view, walking up the steps and into the low room where he lay. He was so pleased to see his friend he grinned wide and saw Max smile in return.
“You’re awake!” Max held his hands wide as if in celebration as he walked up to Rig’s bedside.
“Yeah,” Rig replied. “But where am I? How’d I get hurt? Where’s my mother?”
Max turned his palms towards Rig, warding off the questions, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. One at a time.” He leaned to the left and pulled a stool from the darkness of the corner.
Sitting down Max said, “First, you’re in a friend o’ mine’s place. Second, you got hurt when The Branded attacked us tryin’ to steal that badge you found for me.”
Rig’s eyes opened wide with shock, “They attacked you?”
“They attacked us.” Max replied. “You was with me an’ Philp and a few others I know when they came all shoutin’ and screamin’.” Max leaned back a little, stretching out his legs. “They tried to take the badge so’s I can’t use it against ‘em and that bitch Skez stabbed you. I had to come and save you.”
Rig’s hand went to his stomach, “Am I dyin’?” His voice quivered.
Max gave a chuckle and patted him on the hand. “No you ain’t dyin’ you daft bastard. You got stuck pretty good but you’re a strong one.” He patted Rig’s hand again. “You’ll pull through.”
Rig let out a little sigh. “And my mother, is she at home? Does she know I’m alright?” Max had saved him. The woman, Skez, had stabbed him and Max had come to rescue him. He said so himself. Rig thought about how lucky he was to have Max as a friend.
Max’s face took on a confused look. “You don’t remember?” he shrugged. “I guess that makes sense. You was pretty torn up, emotional like, by all the fightin’ so I gave you a little somethin’ to…” Max waved his hands vaguely, “To sort of mask the bad memories a bit. Just so’s you wouldn’t get upset.”
Rig was confused by that, but it made a sort of sense. He couldn’t remember any of the things Max was telling him.
“I dint think it would block out quite so much,” Max mused. “Maybe I gave you a bit too much.” His eyes glazed slightly.
“And my mother?” Rig asked again.
Max seemed to snap out of whatever thought was occupying him and looked back at Rig. He smiled again.
“Your old lady got herself some work, but it’s over in Ares Villas. She said she’s gonna be fine, but she needs to stay there for a bit to build up some credits and then she’ll come back to get you.”
“She’s gone..?” Rig struggled to understand.
“Don’t look so worried.” Max said. “It’s real nice there and you’re gonna stop along with me until she’s ready for you to join her.”
Rig gave Max a weak smile as he tried to understand. His mother had gone to Ares Villas to work. It seemed strange, but maybe it was better there than Henstown. He hoped so. Max was looking at him and he gave a bigger smile to show he was happy. It didn’t make sense, but a lot of things didn’t make sense to Rig and after all, Max wouldn’t lie to him. Max was his friend.
“So I’m stayin’ with you?” Rig asked.
Max screwed his face up. “Not exactly with.” He said. The smile fell from Rig’s face. “More sort of, around. That’s a better way to put it.” Max shuffled his stool closer to Rig and leaned carefully on the edge of the bed. “Y’see Rig, I don’t know if you knows this, but I does a lot for the people round here.”
Rig didn’t know it, he shook his head.
“Well I do,” Max carried on. “There’s people all over what needs food and water and a little help to get by.” Max pointed at Rig, “Like you and your old lady.”
“I do my best to look after ‘em, but there’re so many and there’s only me an’ Philp and Sparkerer y’see?” Rig didn’t see but he was hoping if he was quiet Max would tell him.
“So while your old lady’s away gettin’ things ready for you to join her, she thought it would be good if you helped me.” He looked Rig directly in the eyes, “You wanna help your friends right Rig?”
Rig nodded energetically, “Yeah Max!”
“Good lad, good lad.” Max patted his hand again. “Well I need someone who can get about the tunnels and the town, someone who can drop off little gifts I need to get to people and bring back anythin’ they want to give me in return.”
“What sort of gifts?” Rig’s curiosity made him interrupt. Max gave him a blank look that lasted a moment before his features softened again.
“Just little things to help them out. Like those pills I give to your old lady. They helped her right?”
“Def’nitely!” Rig agreed. They had helped. They’d made her eyes a bit red, but they’d stopped her from being sick, they’d given her enough energy to go looking for work. They’d given Rig back his mother. He smiled at Max.
“So you want me to take things to people that’re gonna help them.” He said.
Max clapped his hands together, “Absolutely!” He put a restraining hand on Rig’s shoulder as he tried to get up. “When you’re all healed up o’ course.”
Rig knew he was right. He couldn’t remember what had happened, but it felt really bad and moving had made it worse again. He lay back.
“Now, I’ve got a bit to be doin’, but I dint want you thinkin’ you was on your own when you woke up.” Max said as he stood from the stool. “I’ll be out a while, but I’ll be back soon and we’ll have you up and off helpin’ the poor people in no time.” He flashed Rig a smile before he turned away and disappeared from view. After a moment Rig heard the sound of a door opening and closing again as Max left.
He lay back on the softness of Max’s friend’s bed and thought about how lucky he was. His mother had gone somewhere that was probably better and Max had told him it wouldn’t be long before he could join her.
He had never been without his mother, but the thought that he would be staying with Max, or around Max at least, made him happy. Max had saved him. Max had brought him food and water and credits and looked after him when he was hurt.
Staying with Max would be great. Knowing he was doing something to help people who didn’t have all the things he did was even better. If Max needed someone to go out and help take medicine to people like he had for Rig’s mother then Rig was just the person he needed.
The bed he lay on was comfortable and Rig could feel the tiredness creeping up on him. He didn’t know how long he’d slept for already but it couldn’t have been long because he was still exhausted. Max had said he’d be gone a while so Rig could have a little sleep and not miss him.
As he closed his eyes he thought about his mother, happy somewhere not too far away and looking forward to seeing him again. He was looking forward to seeing her and she’d be proud of him when he told her about all the people he’d have helped by then.
The last thought on his mind before he drifted off with a happy smile on his face was Max. Max was a good man. Max was his friend and Max had made everything ok.
END
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